Sunday 1 April 2018

Christmas Card Club - Animals at Christmas

For this fortnight's Christmas Card Club theme,  Kate at I Love Socks and Cards blog  chose the theme of Animals at Christmas.

My arthritis has been flared up for the past few weeks and my hands have been too sore to colour.  At times like this, I find there are plenty of pre-coloured images to use for cardmaking. LOTV is one of my faves and this little Deer and Bunny forest scene card front seemed custom made for the theme!

The design papers are all from my 6x6 First Edition,  Christmas Wishes paper pad. I am fond of these pads as they are stuffed full of pages and it is always possible to find sets of pages that look good together. The border was made from a snippet of one of the pages and then layered onto some kraft paper.  I thought that helped to tie in the kraft striped DP I matted the image with. I should mention that I meant to tilt the green mat the opposite way from the stripey mat, but somehow forgot about that idea...

The small poinsettias were purchased last summer at my local paper crafts store garage sale. They were just in a baggie so I do not know who makes them...sorry.  The larger poinsettia cluster in the top left corner is just a jumble of various items that were lying about in my Christmas embellies drawer, topped off by another of the poinsettias. I also added some dark green foil holly leaves, and then wished that I had matted the images with a dark green mirri paper.  In the spirit of trying to make multiples this year,  I still have another image lying on my desk. I will try the mirri mats on that card!


I often forget to leave room for a sentiment and this card was no exception. Luckily, I found this already stamped off sentiment in that Christmas embellies drawer I mentioned earlier. It has been in there so long, I have forgotten the manufacturer.  I fussy cut it out so it would fit onto the image, and then matted with red card and re-fussy cut.

My card base is a 6x6 from our local store. I was disappointed in this purchase as the weight of the card is really light.  I decided to try to increase the weight by completely covering the inside with the same DP as I used on the front. That really helped as it now feels OK. When a card is light, it seems to bend so easily and seems flimsy to me.

Stamped the Stampendous, Warmest Greetings sentiment on a circle of white card that I matted with the same green I used on the front. It has a very fine dusting of what looks like snowflakes, even though you have to look carefully to see them. This is a VOS stamp...bought in 1998!!!


I think my envelope is a bit of a dud. I used a couple of VOS Studio G stamps from Michaels. The polymer images had fused to the acetate and so I inked the stamp while still on the acetate sheet and stamped the poinsettias with red chalk ink. They are not crisp as I was thrown off by the problems with the stamp fusing to the acetate.  I then inked the Reindeer with a brown chalk ink and it sadly appears to be barely there. Drat... should have used Momento brown...

If you would like to see what the other ladies made, their hyperlinks are on my right sideboard. If you wish to join in with making a fortnightly Christmas card to a set theme (chosen by the members), just drop me an email.

23 comments:

cuilliesocks said...

Hello Maureen, sorry to hear that your hands are so sore, having arthritis can be so painful, but nevertheless, you found away around colouring with this gorgeous topper, can't beat a sweet reindeer, and he has a little friend too. Beautifully designed and gorgeous papers and embellishments. Hope you are having a lovely Easter, Kate x

Rita said...

What a lovely cute card Maureen. Very nice. Happy Easter to you and the family. Hugs Rita xxxx

KT Fit Kitty said...

Really cute card! I love it!

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Aww, such an adorably cute image Maureen, lovely design too.
Lorraine

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Lovely card with a so sweet and warm feel, as the matching sentiment! Seems that you have had some difficulties making it, but the result is just perfect
Happy Easter

shazsilverwolf said...

Hi Mo, oh what a lovely cute image that is! Perfect for the theme, I agree. Love how you've put it all together. Not done the insides for my cards yet- I always end up leaving that bit 'till later', then end up with a mountain needing to be done. Have a great week, hugs, Shaz XxX

rachel said...

A really lovely card Mo which fits the theme perfectly! Hope your hands feel better soon and wishing you a happy Easter! Hugs rachel x

Mrs A. said...

Oh this is sweet Maureen. As you say the papers look super together. Sorry to hear you haven't been able to colour much. Hope your Easter has been a nice break. Hugs Mrs A.

Kathleen said...

Super card Mo, really sweet image and a great design, some lovely elements too.

Kath x

Carol said...

A gorgeous result Maureen, I do love the LOTV toppers...they're so cute. Happy Easter and hope your arthritis eases soon. Carol x

cotnob said...

A fabulous card Maureen, such an adorable image - a good idea to decorate the inside and strengthen your card base.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

Gibmiss said...

Oh Mo ... his card is so cute... sorry to hear you have had lots of health scares...
thinkin or you
Hugs Sylvie x

Jackie T said...

Hi this is a stunning Christmas card. I am sorry you have been suffering with your hands. Take care. Hugs Jackie

Verna Angerhofer said...

Your card is so darling and fun with that cute image. I am having lots of arthritis issues too so I am afraid my coloring is not much in the cards either. I sure hope it is not a permanent thing as I love to color.

MaryH said...

Always love these LOTV images. I've gotten pretty good at spotting the company even before I read the post. This one is precious, and truly, wouldn't have needed a sentiment...but I liked the way you've tucked it in. The background effects look pretty with this little deer & bunny, and I always love seeing how you use your great 'finds'. Hope the hands ease up real soon, as I expect the cold weather doesn't help things either. TFS & have a good week

Christine Harrop said...

I do agree with you about flimsy cards. They just won't stand up at all so like you I put a liner of DSP on the inside. I love the image on your card. Sorry to hear about your arthritis problems. Hope it eases off a bit soon. Hugs Christine xx

Sandra H said...

l feel for you with your hands Mo it can be so painful l too have painful joints l love your card and the image is so gorgeous x

Zoe Tant said...

Aw what a cutie. Lovely card and really pretty embellishments. Hope you are in less pain soon and a little more mobile. Hugs Zoe x

Jules said...

Hi Mo

.. .. such a lovely Christmas card.

I was sorry to read that you have had a flare up of your arthritis. Hopefully you will soon have it under control again.

I hope you have had a lovely Easter break.

Love Jules xx

Pia S said...

What a sweet and detailed design, adorable! Sorry I’ve been absent for a while, mojo lost and a week of holiday in the sun with my mum, then lots of tv time during Easter, I love the crime series they put on as Easter specials.

Heidi MyLittleStampingBlog said...

I agree, those LOTV images are so cute! You made a lovely card with it! I hope you feel better soon!

dutchess said...

A super card Maureen...we have just arrived home from our easter holiday in Wales in a cottage with no internet and lots of snow! Xxx

Greta said...

Oh too cute, Maureen! Love how you showcased that darling deer!